LETTERS: Fire districts: antiquated and burdensome

The law (MGL Title 7 Chapter 48 Section 60, a special act of 1895) was created for small populations in rural areas that were not covered by a city or town fire department.

Patriot Staff

The law (MGL Title 7 Chapter 48 Section 60, a special act of 1895) was created for small populations in rural areas that were not covered by a city or town fire department. The law allowed for the establishment of a District with oversights and protections normally associated with budgets corresponding to no more than 2,000 people. Fire Districts do not provide the appropriate transparency, oversight, checks and balances, current procedures, term limits, rights and equitable cost sharing when a small village, like Hyannis was when the Fire District was created (1896), grows into a city that it is in 2014.

Equitable Cost Sharing Hyannis contains the Cape Cod Hospital, Town of Barnstable Municipal buildings, School Department, Public Works, the Hyannis Youth and Community Center, the Transportation Center, social services support centers, a future Performing Arts Center and many other buildings that do not support the Hyannis Fire District financially. The Hyannis Fire District ratepayers unfairly bear the financial burden of Fire and Emergency services for the Town of Barnstable, which is magnified by the proposal to build a new fire station for a total cost of about $23 million. At the Hyannis Fire District meeting on March 5, 2014, there was a presentation and a vote on the topic of a proposed new Hyannis Fire Station.

Rights As announced by the moderator, in order to be recognized to speak or vote you needed a red card and cards were only issued to registered voters of the district. Hyannis Fire District ratepayers who are commercial ratepayers but not residents were not only denied a vote, they were also denied a voice.

Transparency There was no mention of the tax impact on commercial ratepayers at the same meeting. There was a public speaker who was also on the building committee and who is president of the firefighters union. In the spirit of full disclosure, the moderator or anyone on the stage should have made sure the audience was aware of this fact.

Lack of Term Limits and Oversight On March 17th I asked the Hyannis Fire District Commissioners and Moderator through the Chief to explain my concerns from the meeting. I have not received a response.

Transparency, Oversight, Checks and Balances The Hyannis Fire District commissioners have calculated current and future rates and presented them based on the current factor of 1.35. Commercial ratepayers pay a higher rate than residential ratepayers. The law requires an annual vote on the matter. The Hyannis Fire District ratepayers were not informed of the possibility of a substantial tax increase if a future vote should be for a factor of one.

District Facts There are about 144 “Districts” in Massachusetts of varying purposes but I find 29 Fire Districts in the state. See them here: https://dlsgateway.dor.state.ma.us/gateway/Public/WebForms/TaxRateDistrict/ReportDTRecapPublic.aspx

Some Fire Districts are also Water Districts. There are five Fire Districts in the Town of Barnstable. The sum of the total amount raised from the 29 Fire Districts between the tax levy and other sources is about $73 million. The total amount raised by the five Town of Barnstable Fire Districts is more than $35 million. One third of the state’s Fire Districts have budgets of around $500,000. The Hyannis Fire District form of government is antiquated for Hyannis, just like the building.

The Hyannis Fire District elected officials have taken advantage of the minimum requirements of the law. The Hyannis Fire District is the poster child for a form of bad local government.

It’s time for a better arrangement. It's time we moved into the 21st century. It’s time we had transparency, oversight, checks and balances, current procedures, term limits, rights and equitable cost sharing. It’s our Fire Department; demand premier 21st century governing. We should all embrace the opportunity to explore our options for a better arrangement.